Depression

Depression affects people in Australia every day. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with depression.

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Jeriava How do I talk to my doctor?
  • replies: 9

I’ve been struggling with my life for the past 7-8 years but I finally made an appointment with a doctor. I feel really scared though because I don’t ever go to the doctor for anything, and I havent seen this doctor for so many years that I’m really ... View more

I’ve been struggling with my life for the past 7-8 years but I finally made an appointment with a doctor. I feel really scared though because I don’t ever go to the doctor for anything, and I havent seen this doctor for so many years that I’m really scared that they’ll judge me or won’t believe anything I say. I’m really anti social so I feel like I won’t be able to say what I wanna say or I’ll say the wrong thing causing them to just dismiss me and move me along without helping. I’m just tired of feeling alone, depressed and just worthless but I’m really scared to talk to them.

Chris_B Are you looking to support someone else with depression? PLEASE READ before posting
  • replies: 1

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and f... View more

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and friends with a mental health condition It's full of threads from people who have family members and friends going through anxiety, depression or other related conditions. Have a read through the threads there, and feel free to take part in the discussions. Below are also some helpful beyondblue resources you might want to look through first as well: Supporting someone Have the conversation

AGrace SELF HELP TIPS FOR MANAGING DEPRESSION
  • replies: 132

Hi Everyone, Here are some ideas you might like to try for managing symptoms of depression. Of course everyone's different, so let us know what works for you, and please feel free to add to the list... Mindfulness – through breathing or engaging the ... View more

Hi Everyone, Here are some ideas you might like to try for managing symptoms of depression. Of course everyone's different, so let us know what works for you, and please feel free to add to the list... Mindfulness – through breathing or engaging the 5 senses Distress Tolerance – Accepting Emotions and Self Soothing Distraction – Put the thoughts/feelings aside and come back to them when you are ready to deal with them Positive Affirmations – Have some affirmations written down repeat them to yourself daily Sleep/Exercise/Diet – All 3 aspects of our lifestyle can impact the way we think/feel Increasing Pleasurable Activities – Engage in at least one pleasurable activity per day

All discussions

Jaynie_07 Stressed out with a clingy baby
  • replies: 3

I have a two month old baby, absolutely adore her. however I am going insane and find myself exhausted and in tears more often than not. she will only sleep when I hold her, the second I put her down she cries so I'm too scared to even try. I spend e... View more

I have a two month old baby, absolutely adore her. however I am going insane and find myself exhausted and in tears more often than not. she will only sleep when I hold her, the second I put her down she cries so I'm too scared to even try. I spend every day on the couch holding her, I don't get to eat properly, I don't get to shower and I'm the only one in the house that cleans anything so it's a pigsty. I have everyone in my ear saying I need to put her in the cot to sleep but they're not the ones who have to deal with her screaming, sometimes to the point of throwing up. I also have people telling me that I need to keep holding her if that's what she wants, that her crying will traumatise her. I try to teach her to sleep in different places without letting her cry but every time I think I'm getting somewhere she goes downhill again by the next day. I can't handle it anymore

Melfunction81 Is major depression responsible for feeling so lethargic?
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I was diagnosed with major depression at 14. For most of my life I was able to deal with this and live a relatively normal life. I have always considered myself to be a strong, independent and driven person. Every job Ive had I have ended up ... View more

Hi all, I was diagnosed with major depression at 14. For most of my life I was able to deal with this and live a relatively normal life. I have always considered myself to be a strong, independent and driven person. Every job Ive had I have ended up in a team leader/management role because I worked my butt off. Now at 35 I am on a disability pension due to PTSD and major depression and anxiety and I hate it. It's a miracle if I can get out of bed in the morning and the smallest task like taking a shower or doing the laundry leaves me so tired I feel like I could sleep for days. All I want to do is get well and go back to work but I don't know how when I can't even manage to look after myself. What Id like to know from everyone else is how tired can depression make you? Is this normal? I eat pretty healthy, I try to exercise, I take multi vitamins and B vitamins on top of my antidepressants but nothing seems to help. Im so tired of being tired all of the time. Can anyone offer any suggestions? TIA

james1 Calm before the storm
  • replies: 7

The past couple of weeks have really felt like the calm before the storm. Unfeeling. Unmoving. But on edge. I have been keeping myself busy. In the last week, I've attended different meet up groups, set goals to write more, compose more, and exercise... View more

The past couple of weeks have really felt like the calm before the storm. Unfeeling. Unmoving. But on edge. I have been keeping myself busy. In the last week, I've attended different meet up groups, set goals to write more, compose more, and exercise more. I've also toned right down on the dating side as well to give myself less to worry about. And yet, with all these seemingly positive things, they all seem to just be delaying the inevitable and setting me up for a bigger and bigger crash. I guess I'm just ranting about the fact that, frankly, I'm tired of this cycle. And sitting still to give myself space is just a foreign concept. I'm not used to waiting. I hate waiting. But I'm so tired of being worried about the inevitable

Pinkmum Sleepless night with tears
  • replies: 31

I'm 35 weeks pregnant with an older boy of two. He is sick at home with dad and I'm at my parents crying behind the closed door. I suffered major depression m from the very beginning of this pregnancy and is still everywhere by this day. I could bear... View more

I'm 35 weeks pregnant with an older boy of two. He is sick at home with dad and I'm at my parents crying behind the closed door. I suffered major depression m from the very beginning of this pregnancy and is still everywhere by this day. I could bearly have private time, even half an hour each day with hubby to share how I feel. Only tears can express my drowning sadness. Only people who have been through this understand how I feel. I hope.

themadchatter How to not feel isolated and lonely??
  • replies: 10

Anyone got any tips on how someone can not feel so down anymore? I recently thought I had met the woman for me, but while I was staying at hers in order to get to know her she fell in love with another man and I had no where else to go so was forced ... View more

Anyone got any tips on how someone can not feel so down anymore? I recently thought I had met the woman for me, but while I was staying at hers in order to get to know her she fell in love with another man and I had no where else to go so was forced to endure everything she did, how it made me feel while I was there. Now that I am back at home I am feeling very broken. I am wanting to feel better but I just don't understand how someone can put others through mental torture and she is the one who has found happiness in him and I'm the one feeling shattered. I try going for walks but my mind tells me what good is a walk going to do, when my thoughts are still going to be dealing with all this hurt and loneliness but just not at home. I just don't understand how it's fair she can put me through so many emotions, so many tears in a short space of time and she has someone now and I have no one to tell me I'll get through this...or tell me they love me. And now that she has him, I'm getting nothing but being ignored. No genuine concern for my wellbeing. Whereas I would never be able to inflict this type of pain on anyone

Sujema Unable to take medication, looking to alcohol for relief.
  • replies: 4

For many years, pre medication, I turned to alcohol to 'numb' the pain of depression and PTSD. After a period in a treatment centre, in 2013 I was alcohol free for two years and prescribed antidepressants. The medication exacerbated my symptoms, and ... View more

For many years, pre medication, I turned to alcohol to 'numb' the pain of depression and PTSD. After a period in a treatment centre, in 2013 I was alcohol free for two years and prescribed antidepressants. The medication exacerbated my symptoms, and caused other serious, adverse side affects. I decided to come off the medication, finding the withdrawal a painful experience physically and emotionally. 1 year ago feeling very raw, with suicidal ideation, I picked up a drink again to find some relief from the pain and fear. I have had the usual regular Psych counselling, and endeavour to do some regular walking, but I'm am finding it hard to resist having a drink to find some relief. I would like to know if their are others of you who are unable to take medication, and how you cope.

Mc62 Run out of meds
  • replies: 9

Not the actual tablets etc , run out of medications to try ,and likley fairly close to running out of combinations 40 yrs of it , diagnosis originally clinical depression , ptsd and recently severe angziety attacks, now at fifty four I've totally run... View more

Not the actual tablets etc , run out of medications to try ,and likley fairly close to running out of combinations 40 yrs of it , diagnosis originally clinical depression , ptsd and recently severe angziety attacks, now at fifty four I've totally run out of the anger I need to fight it. Every fourtnight the same , the cost cutting , robbing peter to pay Paul dosent work so I'm basically robbing peter to pay peter....( the snake swallowing his own tail ) ..I'm going days withought sleep and within this hole of hell my life just revolves around pension day bill paying and waiting till next pay to pay more bills..... the only two medications that help in the least don't appear to be long term options ( ie sedatives in the short term for the panic atacks and another for sleep, trouble with other is the side effects just get to grate to bear) no idea what to do ...got the psyc n gp next week but I've got nothing left to say or to feel

AJ91 25 work nights severely depressed
  • replies: 3

Hi im 25year old male who has struggled with depression since i was about 7. I also have anxiety issues and what not, but real problem im having is that i started my new job and working 6 nights a week with only Saturday night off, im starting to fee... View more

Hi im 25year old male who has struggled with depression since i was about 7. I also have anxiety issues and what not, but real problem im having is that i started my new job and working 6 nights a week with only Saturday night off, im starting to feel alienated and alot more alone then i ever have in my life. I feel im getting to attached to girls quickly in hope of a quick fix and then its putting a strain on me. i literally feel like i am alone.. that i have no friends.. feeling worthless.. like im a faliure in life because of past issues with gambling that have crept back into my life. I cant even do the things i enjoy anymore like running, gym, sports, even watching tv feels like a hastle If anyones got any suggestions on how i can try and over come this or any tips in general. Would be greatly appreciated.

jlkr decades of Loneliness
  • replies: 7

Hi, recently I have tried to reach out and try to find ways to mend my life, or what is left of it. Now in early 50's I must do something or will die alone. I have cut myself off from society when I was in late 30's as I was still unmarried with few ... View more

Hi, recently I have tried to reach out and try to find ways to mend my life, or what is left of it. Now in early 50's I must do something or will die alone. I have cut myself off from society when I was in late 30's as I was still unmarried with few relationships. I have met females but lacked confidence, in fact I attracted women easily and had a number of female friends but was very shy and had no confidence. Looking back I was a pretty normal guy with friends and a great future in my work. Then this girl I was interested in but were only friends slept with my best mate. I was just getting over a similar thing happening to me. After that I broke down and cried and maybe had what I think is a nervous breakdown and fell on the floor, ive never been the same since. That was the start of my life falling apart. I shut myself off from people and other things also made me feel very depressed. So I moved away from that place and moved to a new location. But the new place I had no friends or anyone I knew. I also lost all my money when I arrived, got robbed so had to start my new life from the bottom. I shut myself off from society, that was early 2000's. At the end of the decade I made money and traveled and I felt like I was living again. In fact I met a couple of women on my travels through Asia and had some relationships for the first time in decades It helped give me confidence back again and I felt like a human again but that is all in the past too now. I returned from traveling after my money run out and my bushiness failed and now for 2 -3 years have been living alone again. I have no friends, no family. My mother passed away a few years ago who was my last family member. have no kids or anything. The only friends I have are a couple of junkies in Sydney as do not like talking to normal people as I pretty much hate society and normal life since my life is such a failure. I have not been able to hold a job, have no qualifications. I tried hard with work this year but was made to feel stupid been bossed around by kids at my work. Such horrible people. The worse part of my life is now realizing in now in early 50's and now will live the rest of my life alone, with no children or family.

craft24 Difficulty managing everything
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone, this is my first time here and things are getting a bit hard for me so I just wanted to open up I guess. I'm from the UK originally and about 5 years or so ago a doctor diagnosed me with depression. She wasn't my usual doctor and I didn'... View more

Hi everyone, this is my first time here and things are getting a bit hard for me so I just wanted to open up I guess. I'm from the UK originally and about 5 years or so ago a doctor diagnosed me with depression. She wasn't my usual doctor and I didn't want to go onto any medication so I just accepted it and tried to manage by myself. Shortly after that I met my now fiancee and things improved. We've never had a great sex life which is mainly down to me and my general lack of intimacy. It sucks because I do enjoy it, just can't instigate or get really involved, but recently it's become so bad she's talking about not wanting to be in the relationship anymore. We had a baby 4 months ago so that changed things a lot, we have moved house, emigrated here a year ago (she's Australian) and I am the sole income earner on not a great salary with hardly anything left over after bills, etc. So basically money, relationships stuff and life pressures have been my stresses, and I can feel the depression coming back heavily. It's always popped up now and again but I've manged to deal with it, but I think this might be the last straw. I've booked in with my GP on Friday to see if there's anything I can do, but I'm worried I'm going to loose her. I don't enjoy my job, which she knows and wants me to leave it, and I feel like this is adding to the problem. I would quit today if I could but I have too much responsibility and it doesn't look like the government would help. I guess I don't really have a question, just wanted to talk about what's happening. With emigration I don't have my family and friends around so feel quite isolated and haven't had much luck making new friends since being here. Today has been hard after this talk of ending the relationship, which I don't want to do obviously, hopefully all of this is tied together somehow and I can get help.